This question is mostly geared to Tory (unless of course someone else is familiar with the
Horizon Pilot Development Program).
Just found out today that Horizon will be coming to my flight school later this month for interviews and read about the program details and requirements online. If you happen to be familiar with the program and can answer, what I would like to know is:
Once accepted, is it a job offer? The requirements are really low, just a PPL and other minor things but the program states âPilots sign an agreement to work for Horizon Air for a minimum of two years after reaching ATP minimums.â So it sounds like a job offer if accepted into the program, but getting a job offer with only a PPL also sounds suspect.
What would it take for them to rescind the job offer it it is indeed a job offer? Obviously things like losing your First Class Medical or a DUI, but what about multiple checkride failures? Since they only require a PPL, there are plenty of possibilities a candidate would fail several checkrides, or as long as you eventually pass they wonât care?
In addition, the application has a resume requirement. While I have one currently, what if any flight information should I include. As their minimum requirement is just a PPL and I have my own instrument checkride in a couple days, not really sure what to include in the resume. Perhaps just the date of my private pilot certificate and hours as of today?
Horizon is Tory territory and Iâm certain heâll respond but until he does I do have some answers:
Thereâs nothing suspicious at all. As weâve been saying, there was a pilot shortage and all indications are that things are going to get worse. The earlier an airline can lock someone in the better. It is a Conditional Job Offer but the key word is âconditionalâ.
Iâm sure theyâll present you with the details but I guarantee you checkride busts are in there. As would be accidents and incidents. Trust me if you give them reason to rescind they will. Again, itâs âconditionalâ.
They want a resume because they want some info on who you are. Whatever flight experience you have theyâll want to see as well as your non-aviation employment, education etc.
Thanks Adam. Yeah, I figured the job offer would be conditional but itâs still a bit crazy to me to think that as a private pilot, I can still get a job offer, even if itâs âconditionalâ. From what I mostly read, the conditional job offers sounded like the come after about 500 hours total time, or from regionals with really bad reputations that I wonât name that will try and get you after your PPL. So to see a well respected regional like Horizon doing so is both interesting and exciting.
I am not very familiar with Horizonâs Pilot Development Program. Itâs not really in my wheelhouse and itâs also probably best that I allow the recruiters to provide specifics. So rest assured the recruiters will go over all of this, but essentially
If accepted, it is a conditional job offer.
I donât know the specifics but itâs all spelled out in the contract that youâll sign.
This is a screenshot of the flight experience section of my resume.
Technically there is no flow program from Horizon to Alaska. There is something slightly different called a Pathways program. While they are similar, it would be wrong to call it a true flow. But in short, there is an interview process to be selected into the program. Once youâre in your name goes on a list in seniority order. Then, when Alaska needs more pilots they will draw pilots from the top down as necessary. There are also minimum experience requirements that need to be met before an official job offer is made. Essentially you have to upgrade. You canât just sit back and chill as an FO until your name is called. You need to prove to Alaska that you truly want to work for them and you need to prove that you capable of being a good leader.
Edit: I also just want to point out that this type of program is really not that uncommon at all. Virtually every regional has some kind of program with a fancy name. The shortage is real. The regionals need to be proactive. Although just a CJO, you still have to prove your worth by completing the rest of your ratings. There really is very little risk for Horizon to invest in a PPL holder. Even if they loan PDP participants money to complete ratings, if you are unsuccessful I believe you have to give the money back.
Just wanted to shoot you an update. Submitted my application a few days after this thread, had my interview a few weeks ago and got an acceptance a couple days ago in the the Horizon Pilot Development Program. After taking a couple of days to let the offer sink in, I accepted and now have a (conditional) job offer with Horizon. Still a long road ahead, my own timeline doesnât have me flying with Horizon until 2024, but if youâre still around and havenât made the jump to a major, I look forward to bumping into you and maybe even be your right-seater for a shift or two. Thanks for the help.
As an aside, if anyone is interested in the program, I can offer what I know so far. As I just accepted, Iâm sure I will learn more from being in the actual program and what to expect moving forward.
Congratulations on the acceptance! I too have an interview coming up with the program and was wondering if I could get in touch with you to discuss how your interview went. Let me know. Thanks!
Sure, just let me know how, unless you want to discuss / ask on the thread. I donât think there is a DM or chat function here that Iâm aware of here.
The interview went well! I was wondering what the turnaround time was for you. They said about two weeks, just wanted to see how soon others were notified.
It was a smidge over 2 weeks. I interviewed on a Friday and got a call back on the Tuesday 2.5 weeks later, so 18 days total for me. Got a call, talked about the program a bit. They sent me the contract to look over and they will give you some time to respond, and whether or not you will accept and enter the program. I ended up taking a couple days to think about it and gather some questions after reading the contract. Called back, asked my questions, and before ending the call, let the Horizon recruiter know to be expecting my signed forms within a few minutes.
I applied for this position and patiently waiting to see if I get an interview opportunity! If you donât mind sharing a little bit about the interview process that would be awesome! Itâs been 20 years since Iâve had an interview if you have Instagram Iâm under the name @studentpilot40 since I donât believe there is a private message on this forum. Good luck with the program and maybe Iâll see you around:)
Sorry for the delayed response, didnât see this until now. Hopefully you didnât have your interview yet so my response can be somewhat helpful.
One thing to keep in mind for the Pilot Development Program interview is that it is completely non-technical. All the questions are to basically gauge you as a person to see if you would be a fit for Horizon (basically would you be a person your fellow pilots and crew members would want to spend time with over 3-4 day trips etc). Questions are along the lines of âname a time when youâŠâ so there really isnât anything to be prepared for since answers are your own and should be truthful. Other examples of questions they asked are âwhat made you want to be a pilotâ and âwhat is your âdreamâ airlineâ. It was pretty simple interview if you are what they looking for and answer sincerely.
After the interview, they checked with the flight school and got back to me in about 2.5 weeks with the conditional job offer. One thing to keep in mind, the program is tied very closely to the sponsoring flight school so once you get the offer and accept, you basically have to instruct the same flight school or get released by the flight school to work or instruct elsewhere when you sign the contract with Horizon. I did not find that out until I received and read the contract.
I must be getting oldâŠI donât have an Instagram, just Facebook. Any other questions, just let me know. Good luck with the interview.
This feels like a loaded question. Would it be insulting to the interviewer that Horizon is not your end goal, if you were to specify that? I feel like itâs well-known that most pilots intend to move on. How did you go about answering that question?
Actually I donât think that this is a loaded question at all. The regionals know that most applicants intend to move on to a major, legacy or cargo at some point and they also know that itâs going to require that you spend at least 3-5 years at a regional before you are likely eligible for a major, legacy or cargo airline. They really just want you to be honest and transparent. Asking about a pilotâs hopes and dreams is intended to evoke a passionate answer, IMO. A pilot with a passion for aviation is typically more successful. You likely already meet the hiring requirements which is why you have an interview in the first place. They want to see passion.
I was actually surprised by the question. I started with jokingly saying âwellâŠIâm not sure youâd like the answer.â They actually responded âyeah we know not everyoneâs dream airline is Alaska or Horizonâ (Horizon is owned by Alaska). So I basically answered truthfully and with the reason why (the airline I said was neither Alaska or Horizon). I think they appreciated the truth. In any case, I got an offer so, just tell the truth and you will be fine. They can probably tell when someone is insincere so definitely donât give an answer thinking thatâs what they want to hear just because they can probably sense your insincerity or lie.
Happy Anniversary! Lol Ok now I see. Two years. Thank you for two years of your continued participation, Sam.
if you have Instagram Iâm under the name 
Any other questions, just let me know. Good luck with the interview.